Plato — A dialogue that leaves the definition open
The question that opens it
If knowledge is perception, true judgment, or true judgment with an account, why does the dialogue stop without settling on one?
- 1
The Theaetetus successively tests candidates that identify knowledge with perception, true judgment, and true judgment with an account.
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This is an evidence-linked editorial account, not a direct quotation.
Theaetetus
Plato · Perseus Digital Library text with Stephanus pagination
Locator: Stephanus 151d–187a, 187b–201c, 201d–210a
Open sourcePlato on Knowledge in the Theaetetus
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Locator: Sections 6–8
Open source
- 2
The dialogue ends in aporia without endorsing any of the three candidates as its final definition of knowledge.
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This is an evidence-linked editorial account, not a direct quotation.
Theaetetus
Plato · Perseus Digital Library text with Stephanus pagination
Locator: Stephanus 210a–b
Open sourcePlato on Knowledge in the Theaetetus
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Locator: Introduction and section 9
Open source
- 3
The dialogue is commonly dated to around 369 BCE; no exact place of composition is asserted.
Check the evidence
This is an evidence-linked editorial account, not a direct quotation.
Plato on Knowledge in the Theaetetus
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Locator: Introduction, date and dramatic frame
Open source